Multi-sided folding play-yard



March 4,' 1,958 H. J.

LANDRY 2,825,072

MULTI-SIDED 'FOLDING PLAY-YARD Filed Nov. 26, 1954 i nh/ 32 v 2 sheets-sheet 1 0 mvENToR HENRY .J. LANDRYv huif,

ATTORNEY y March 4,A 1958 H. J. LANDRY 2,825,072

MULTI-SIDED FOLDING 'PLAY-YARD Filed Nov. 26, 1954' 2 Sheets-Shed'l 2 FIGA' ATTORNEY United States Patent() MULTI-SIDED FOLDING PLAY-YARD Henry J. Landry, Ashburnham, Mass. Application November 26, 1954, serial No. 471,294

' 1o Claims. y(ci. 5 99) YThis invention relates to a multi-sided folding playyard, and in the particular instance illustrated in this Y case, the play-yard is provided with sixsides as distinct from the conventional four-sided, square play-yard.

The principal object of the present invention resides in the provision of a multi-sided play-yard, and especially a six-sided play-yard which is provided with means for 2,825,072 Patented Mar. 4, 1958 `ice parts being shown in dotted lines to illustrate the folding action;

Fig. 3 is a section on line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged section on line 4-4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a plan view illustrating the operation of the play-yard and showing the same in some folded condition;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged section on line 6 6 of Fig. 5; and

Fig. 7 is a plan view illustrating the play-yard in almost fully folded condition.

The present play-yard as clearly seen in Fig. l, is provided with six sides, but the invention is not limited to this number. The main supporting frame for the device comprises a central horizontal diametrical rigid floorsupporting frame member 10 to which is connected at each end thereof at right angles thereto the uprights 12 and 14. At each side edge of the central floor-supporting member 10, there is a folding floor member or part 16,', 18, these floor members being substantially alike but reversed and each having a longer edge adjacent the support 10, a shorter parallel edge which may be referred to as a free edge, and inclined side edges as clearly shown in Fig. l. These oor parts are hinged as by hinges 20 to the central member 10 and may assume the horizontal, operative position as in Fig. 1 or substantially vertical folded position as in Fig. 7.

Each side wall of the device comprises a section 22 which is hinged by an interiorly disposed hinge 24 to the upright 12; a central wall section 26 hinged by an exterior hinge 28 to wall section 22, and a third wall section which is itself articulated into two smaller parts 30 and 32, the part 30 being hinged by an interior hinge 34 to parts simultaneously by means of a pedal, lever or the like, said floor elements normally holding the sides of the play-yard extended and when-folded, providing for quick and easy folding of the side walls by the operator with an extremely small amount of effort required for this j Further objects of the inventionpinclude the Provision of a six-sided or similar play-yard in which the side walls are divided into two main parts, each of said main parts including four articulated wall sections, two of said wall sections being adjacent to each other and of equal length,`

wall section 26 and part 32 being hinged by an interior hinge 36 to the upright 14. Wall section parts 30 and 32 are hinged together as at 38 (see Fig. 2), and it will be seen that each wall section may generally comprise an upper rail,'a lower rail, and inter-connecting rigid up.- rights vor-stiles 40.- The -Various wall sections and particularly those lat 26 may be provided with cleats 42 to underlie `and support the floor in extended condition of the latter. The side wall is of course duplicated at the opposite sides of the uprights and reference numerals have been duplicated to show corresponding parts therefold the play-yard it is merely necessary to depress the lever or pedal, thus raising the floor parts, to release the catches which are closely adjacent the operator, and to swing in the two smaller articulated wall sections, so that the two longer wall sections are thereby swung inwardly to lie adjacent and generally parallel to the folding oor.

A still further object of the invention resides in the provision of a multi-sided play-yard as described above in which the construction is such as to provide for folding the play-yard into substantially the normal folded area of a conventional four-sided play-yard, the Vtwo longer articulated side wall sections being substantially equal in length to the play-yard when folded and to the central floor-supporting frame member therefor.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear hereinafter.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a plan view showing the play-yard extended;

Fig. 2 is a view in end elevation, looking in the direcof. Hinges 38 are capable of being held rigidly in the extended condition of Figs. 1 and 2 by means of conventional 'play-card latches 44 which are easily opened as shown in Fig. 5 in order to allow these walls to fold. The particular construction of these latches forms n0 parts of the present invention except for the purpose indicated.

At the outer face of the upright 14, there is 'provided a foot pedal or lever 46 which may have an end ange 48 thereon. This lever is rigidly secured toa segmented gear 50 which is in mesh with a like gear 52. Each of these gears is provided with a central square portion as indicated at 54, which square portions receive parts of the two rods 56 which extend in parallel relation under the respective oor members 16 and 18 and terminate in elongated angled ends 58. These ends are held by any desired means as an apertured bracket 6i) for rotational support therein, the bracket 60 being mounted on the under side of the center support 10.` At a remote position, there are slide guides 62 to support the outer ends of these rods, as clearly shown in Fig. 3.

. Assuming the parts to be disposed as shown in Fig.' 1, with the play-pen in extended operative condition, and

j it being desired to fold the same, the operator merely tion of arrow 2 in Fig. 1, parts being broken away and 44 may be simultaneously opened by the operator, using both hands, one for each latch, since pedal 46 may be operated by the foot, andthen'a slight Vpush inwardly at the`joint`between the sections 30 and v32 results in the side walls being swung inwardly past a more or less centralposition l (see .Fig., 5 l to :a ,substantially ,closed .posh tion. This action completes the folding of the floorfrnem-V bers if they have not already been completelylosedfby the action of the pedal.

1 When itis desired to` extend=theplayyard from folded to operative condition, it is` merely necessary.` to graspv the side -wall sections 30, -32 andisvvingthem outwardly/@past the Fig. -5 positionto ythe;Fig. Al .position, whereupon the Hoor members will automatically pivot downwardly for descendfto the `operative, position of Figs l anduZ.

Itwill` be seen, that n the present play-yard providesa construction `whichis extremely easy and quiclcto operate. T heoperatordoes not-have to 4move fromhis positionrinffront of theuprightt14 and .may fold and extend the entire -device ,from this position without even the necessity of leaningover, becausehe does not have Yto stretch out but very little `with 4either hand to reach the latches 44.

The folded area `taken up by the present play-yard .is no greater than that of an ordinary four-sided play-yard and it is to beparticularly noted that the wall sectionsA 22 and `26 together are substantially equal to the length of the center support 10, rand the side wall sectionsy30 and 32 being themselves articulated, swing inwardly and neither causes an extremely long folded playfyard, or the usual extreme thickness of a six-sided play-yard when folded.

Having thus described my'invention and the `advantages thereof, I do not wish to be'limited to the details herein disclosed,rotherwise than as set `forth in theclaims, but

What I `claim is: t

1. kA `folding play-yard comprising a pair of multipart permanently articulated side walls, a'central floor level member connecting theends of the side walls kand extending across the play-yard when'extended, apair of lloor` parts each hinged with relation to the iloor level member and having a :free edge shaped to the shape of the side walls when extended, one ,partgonly of each side wall being divided and hingedgenerally centrally vofits length, the divided portions yof the said` one part each being less in `lengthfthan the'lengths of any other nside wall parts. l

2. A folding `play-yardtcomprising a pair of multipart `permanently articulatedside walls, a `centralJtloor level member connecting the ends of 'the side walls and extending across-the play-yard whenextended, a'pairY of oor parts each hinged withrelation to the floor level member and having a free edge shaped to the shape of theiside wallswhen extended, onefpartwonlyof each side Wall being dividedand .hinged generally centrally 'of its lengthLarrd the .remainingparts of each side walltogether generally equalling the toor level 4memberrinllength.

.3. A folding play-yard comprising 'a -pair of fmultipart permanently articulated sidewalls, a central -lloor level member connecting the ends ofthe side walls and extending across the play-yard when extended,'a pair '-of oor `parts each hinged with relation to the tloor level member and having a free VedgeAshaped to theshape-of the side walls when extended, one partlofleach'side wall being divided and hinged generally centrally of.its length and the remaining parts of `each side `wall together generally equalling the floor level member in length and being swingable into general parallelism therewith with the hinged .sections of the 1divided-wall,;part folded. flatly thereto.

V4. A folding playeyard `comprising a .pair 4of `multipart permanently articnlagtedgside walls, a central floor level member` connecting t the ends `of `=the :side walls and extending across the play-yard .whenrextended a pair 'fof door `parts each` hinged withrelationgtoftheroor; level member and having a free edge shaped to the shape of the side walls when extended, one part of each side wall being divided and hinged generally centrally of its length and the remaining parts of each side wall generally equalling the oor level member in length and being swingable into general parallelism therewith with the hinged sections of the divided wallpart folded atly thereto between the said remaining wall parts and the corresponding raised foor.

5. A foldingplay-yard comprising a pair of multi-part articulated side walls, a central Vfloor level member con nectingthe ends of the `side walls and extending across the play-yard when extended, a pair of oor parts each hinged with relation tothe oor level member and having a free edge shaped to the shape of the side walls when extended and means to raise the floor parts, said means comprising a rod parallel to the oor level member at .each sidethereof under each respective floor part,.alatcral Vprojection .on each rod to act as a floor part raising arm, `andJncans at anendof` the floor level'member to rotate the rods simultaneously, `said last-namedmeans comprising -apair of interengaging elements and amanual lever tooperatelthe same.

16.` kA folding play-yard comprising a pair of uprights, a rigid member at oor level connecting the uprights in rigid relation thereto, a pair of multi-sectioned,f articulated side walls connecting the uprights and selectively folding into. general parallelism Vwith the oor level member or extending `to form an enclosure, and floor members hinged tothe oortlevel connecting member and selectively1folding to;parallel condition with the side walls in rfolded condition .or being'extended to horizontal condition and holdingtheside wallsextended, one section only o'f each side wallbein'g centrally divided and forming a `pairof sub-sections foldable betweentthe respective'raised lloor member .and -lone fof `the yother Vsections of `the `same articulated. rnulti`-sectioned` side wall.

.7. Theplay-yard 'of-claim 6 `wherein the other, undivided, articulated sectionsof each iside wall rgenerally equal the rigid oor level member in length.

8. fA-multi-si'de folding play-yard comprising a pair of spaced `uprights, a oor support member connecting the uprights,:folding sides connecting the uprights, door members secured to the door support in hinged relation thereto, means to raise the floor members from horizontalfposition, and means tol actuate the oor'member raising means, said actuating means being located on an upright `for manual operation, the floor raising and actuating m'eans comprising a rod under eachoor member, a gear on'each rod, said gears Iintermeshing for simultaneousoperation, and an armto rotate the gears.

9. `Afolding play-yard comprising a pair of uprights, a floor support connectingthesame, door members on'the support, av pair of vmulti-sectioned folding `articulated `side Wallsconnecting-the-uprights,l each wall includinga pair ofiadjacent wall sections'adjacentfan uprighteach of which wall-sectionsis.shorter than the other wall sections, 'each said `pair'being foldable inwardly under the respective adjacent wall section, the longer sections of each Wallin toto substantially equalling the length of the floor support.

l0; A-'six-sided folding playfyard comprising a central floor level support, an upright at each end thereof, two multifpart folding articulatedside walls connecting the yuprights, veach side wall in toto being longer than the floor levelsupport, only one part ofeach side wall being divided andhnged generally centrally` ofits length forming two sectionsfoldi'ng inwardly to lie between one other wall part and the oor level support, a oor for the play-yard, the inwardly folding wall sections being substantially equal inrlength and when unfoldedtogether substantially equalling the length of another single wall part, and

i rneansto` raise the oor.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Sailor Feb. 28, 1882 Freid Feb. 16, 1892 Dornan July 13, 1897 Froman Nov. 14, 1905 Zaremba June 25, 1918 Simmons Aug. 16, 1949 ONeill Sept. 27, 1949 Landry Nov. 22, 1949 White Oct. 30, 1951 Serrell Sept. 1, 1953 Lyttaker Dec. 22, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS Sweden Mar. 20, 1902 

